Local figures tee off at Vic Open Pro-Am

The Vic Open is officially under way following yesterday’s Pro-Am event at 13th Beach Golf Course in Barwon Heads.

Sports personalities, media figures, local politicians and sponsors teed off yesterday morning (Wednesday, January 31) on 13^th Beach’s Creek and Beach courses, signalling start of this year’s golf tournament.

The playing field’s big names included Deputy Prime Minister and Corio federal member Richard Marles, Golf Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland, recently retired T20 cricketer Aaron Finch and Geelong Cats players including Jeremy Cameron, Brad Close, and Cam Guthrie, and City of Greater Geelong councillor Bruce Harwood.

Teams of three and four, comprising two or three amateurs and one pro, began the Tour Scramble event with a shotgun start at 7.45am.

Representing the region were PGA Tour of Australasia athletes Ben Eccles (Torquay), Jack Murdoch (13^th Beach), and Deyen Lawson (formerly Curlewis).

The Vic Open will run over the next four days, with play today (Thursday, February 1) starting from 7.30am and concluding in the afternoon on Sunday, February 12.

Both men and women will compete for equal prize money with each field competing for a purse of $420,000.

The first cuts of the Vic Open will be made following Friday’s play (36 holes) before the Championship rounds commencing on Saturday.

A second cut will dwindle the field down to 35 players following Saturday’s play (54 holes) before the final day on Sunday.

For all information on this year’s Vic Open, click HERE

Photos by Peter Marshall